Sweet and Sour Pork, easy gourmet dinner recipes.

Sweet and Sour Pork
Sesame Brown Rice

Cooking time: 30 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

This is based on one form '1000 Chinese Recipes' cook book.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Total time: 25 minutes
This is not the kind made with canned pineapple, which I think is horrid, but an actual real Chinese recipe. In the interest of health and simplicity I did not batter and deep-fry the pork first. I used to. This way is just as good and I don't have to haul 3 cups of hot, smoking oil out to the back garden to toss.

Sweet and Sour Pork Ingredients:

The pork:
14oz (420gr) lean pork I used pork tenderloin
1 tbs oil
1 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs chicken stock
The sauce:
1 tbs oil
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp minced fresh ginger (2 - 3 thin slices, 1" (2.5cm) wide)
1/2 large red bell pepper
1/2 head broccoli
1 medium carrot
1/2 cup (4oz. 120ml) chicken stock
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs white sugar
4 tbs red wine or sherry vinegar
1 tbs cornstarch (maizena, corn flour) dissolved in
2 tbs chicken stock
2 tsp soy sauce

Instructions:

Cut the pork into 1" (2.5cm) cubes.
Heat oil and soy sauce in nonstick skillet. Add pork and stir-fry 5 minutes.
Add chicken stock, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 10 minutes or until done.
Mince garlic.
Peel a small section of ginger, cut into thin slices, then mince.
Slice pepper and carrot into matchsticks. (see Techniques)
Cut broccoli into small florets.
Dissolve cornstarch in chicken stock, soy sauce and set aside.
In large nonstick skillet heat remaining 1 tbs oil over medium-high heat.
Add garlic, ginger and stir-fry 30 seconds.
Add carrot, broccoli, pepper and stir-fry 2 - 3 minutes.
Add stock, sugars, vinegar and soy sauce and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Give cornstarch a stir to recombine and add to sauce, stirring until thickened.
Remove pork from pan juices and add to sauce.
Stir well, heat through and serve.

Sesame Brown Rice

Total time: 20 minutes or whatever your package says
I use 'Uncle Ben's' which is all I can get and it is quick cooking. It looks like brown Basmati and cooks in 15 minutes.

Sesame Brown Rice Ingredients:

1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) quick-cooking brown rice substitute Basmati
1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock or whatever your rice calls for
1/2 tsp sesame or walnut oil
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions:

Cook rice according to package instructions stirring in the sesame oil, soy sauce and seeds when rice is almost done.
Fluff and serve.

Note: You can toast regular sesame seeds in a small, dry, skillet over medium heat for 5 - 7 minutes, until light brown.

Cooking Schedule: 30 minutes for menu
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
large skillet with lid, medium skillet, small saucepan
with lid, 4 - 5 small bowls or cups for organizing
Mince garlic, ginger
Cut pepper, carrot into matchsticks
Cut broccoli into florets
Cut pork into cubes
Toast sesame seeds in skillet, if needed
Cook rice

Dissolve cornstarch in stock, soy sauce
Start to cook pork
Measure out sugars, vinegar into small cups
Heat oil in large skillet, add garlic, ginger, stir-fry
Add carrots, peppers, broccoli, stir-fry
Add stock to pork, cover, cook, low heat
Add stock, sugars, vinegar, soy sauce, bring to boil
Stir cornstarch into vegetables, thicken
Add pork, cover a minute to heat through and blend
Add sesame oil, seeds, soy sauce to rice
Serve Pork with Rice

Menu Plan for Spring I: Week 4, Day 2

Sweet and Sour Pork
Sesame Brown Rice